ZZ TOP

So I looked in the search for ZZ Top and nothing came up  I was a little surprised.. So , how many fans we got around here of that little ol band from Texas?

There are a few threads out there somewhere, but this stupid forum doesn't recognize searches with words under four letters long so no one can ever find them.

Yeah, I'm a fan for sure, I have all their albums. My faves are Tejas and Rhythmeen. Billy's tone is uber bad@$$ on Rhythmeen and Mescalero and Dusty is a criminally underrated bassist who has a killer tone as well. Frank's drumming on Tejas is just stellar.

I am a big ZZ Top fan, especially of their albums from 71-81. I like some of their 80s songs as well. I've only seen them live once, but they were very good.

Witchfinder wrote:

I am a big ZZ Top fan, especially of their albums from 71-81.  I like some of their 80s songs as well.  

This is me.....

I saw them for the first time in early 1975. KISS opened but we missed about half their set. My favorite ZZ top gig was in Vegas (1983) with Quiet Riot opening, a very fun gig. My last time was in 199 with Skynyrd & Screamin Cheetah Wheelies. That was a fun gig too.

I have the box set of all their albums up to Recycler. That's probably about all the ZZ I need.

I saw them years ago. It was a fun show, mostly made memorable by the fact that the opening band, The Black Crowes, were kicked off the tour shorty after it started. Lead singer Chris Robinson would rant against corporate sponsorship and how they played real rock n roll and were not shills. Miller Beer, sponsor of the ZZ Top tour, did not take kindly to his nightly ravings.

It was also memorable for me because I went to see ZZ Top with my father, who was a big fan. He'd never see the big, arena tour experience. And the scantily dressed girls that went with it.

I'm not huge on ZZ Top, but they were my first ever concert. The Recycler tour, I think...whatever record came out around 1990, which I think was that, and it was in Dallas (where I lived at the time). My aunt and uncle were big fans and were going and asked my mom if they could take me, because they knew I was into music and stuff. I was 12 and into Poison and GNR and Metallica, but I was still stoked as hell to just go see a band play. Santana and Steve Miller Band played as well.

I got a tour shirt with the album cover on it too. I wore the hell out of it and really wish I still owned it.

Though I generally find the band to be kinda boring.

I like 'em a lot. Have all the albums and saw them a few years back. When I am in the mood I reach for Deguello, Fandango, Tejas as I am pretty burnt out on the overplayed 80's stuff.

They've definitely got a slot in my collection.

Ironically, I came to them apparently all wrong because my first exposure was that "Sixpack" box set where their first six (appropriately enough) albums were treated to gated reverb '80s drum sounds and the guitars were modified as well.

I don't know - they sounded fine to me. Though, having since heard what the albums originally sounded like, I can get why long-time fans were torqued about it.

I remember borrowing that set from a buddy a few years back to make a comparison and never got around to doing it, so I just gave the thing back to him about a year or so later. Ha.

It's definitely a difference, but not something that wrecks the listening experience. I should get my ZZ Tops ripped so I can give them a solid listen at the office again.

It's not like they replaced the guitar with Moogs or anything like that.

Runicen wrote:

It's definitely a difference, but not something that wrecks the listening experience.

I grew up with the original releases and the 6-pack mix was definitely a both why and WTH moment.

Useless (IMHDO)

Casual fan at best. I've got a best-of disc and that pretty much fulfills my needs as far as ZZ Top goes...

James B. wrote:

Runicen wrote:

It's definitely a difference, but not something that wrecks the listening experience.

I grew up with the original releases and the 6-pack mix was definitely a both why and WTH moment.

Useless (IMHDO)

I think you know why. It starts with "greedy" and ends with "record company"

For me, Eliminator. Yeah, I know it was a big change for them but it is the first one by them I ever heard and I love it. Got Me under Pressure, TV Dinners, the whole thing is excellent. I have several from them but not a lot. I have the "Best Of" CD but those tunes are way overplayed. And I have the EP version of La Futura. It was released on iTunes as a sampler I guess. I bought that and the songs are good. I bought it based on this commercial:



Loved the tune and since the EP was all that was available at the time I bought that instead of waiting for the whole release.

mikeinfla wrote:

For me, Eliminator. Yeah, I know it was a big change for them.

There are some elements of "Eliminator" found on the album before it, "El Loco". (IMHO)

I dig "Eliminator" as a progression of their sound, but not taking that progression and playing with the past.

I thought El Loco sucked except for 2 or 3 songs but even that is better than Recycler or Afterburner.

Still need to buy something by these guys.

I loved this song when I was a kid... Do they even make TV Dinners anymore??

Love ZZ Top. Been listening to Rhythmeen and Mescalero lately.

I have most of their albums and I have a soft spot for Afterburner and Eliminator from hearing them as a kid in the 80s.